As the golden leaves of autumn settled over Bergamo in October 2025, a familiar yet extraordinary scene played out at the finish line of Il Lombardia. Tadej Pogačar, clad in the rainbow jersey of the world champion, crossed the line alone, his arms raised in a gesture that has become the defining image of modern cycling. With this victory, the Slovenian did more than just win a race; he completed a season of such staggering dominance that historians are reaching back to the era of Eddy Merckx for comparison. In 2025, Pogačar did not just compete; he colonized the sport, claiming his fourth Tour de France, a second consecutive World Championship, and three of the five prestigious “Monuments.” This was the year that the “Slovenian Sensation” became an era unto himself, brushing off mid-season injury scares to prove that his hunger for victory remains as insatiable as ever.
The Quintessential Campaign of 2025
Tadej Pogačar’s 2025 season will be remembered as a masterclass in versatility and sustained excellence. From the gravel of Strade Bianche in early March to the steep ascents of Lombardy in October, he maintained a level of performance that defied the traditional peaks and troughs of an elite cycling calendar. His victory at Il Lombardia was his fifth consecutive win in the race—a feat never before achieved in any of cycling’s five Monuments. By matching Fausto Coppi’s total of five wins in the “Race of the Falling Leaves,” Pogačar has firmly etched his name alongside the pantheon of Italian legends while doing so in a far more concentrated timeframe.
Beyond the one-day classics, his fourth Tour de France title was perhaps his most emphatic. Despite a significant mid-season scare involving a knee injury sustained during the race, Pogačar distanced his perennial rival Jonas Vingegaard with a series of crushing mountain performances. His victory on Stage 13 at Peyragudes, achieved on a standard road bike against time-trial specialists, served as a microcosm of his season: a display of raw power and tactical audacity that left the rest of the peloton fighting for the minor podium spots. By the time he reached Paris, the gap to his competitors was measured not in seconds, but in minutes.
Overcoming the Mid-Season “Blues” and Injury
The path to immortality was not without its shadows. Following his Tour de France victory, Pogačar revealed that he had nearly abandoned the race while in the yellow jersey. A worsening knee injury, exacerbated by the biting cold of the Alpine stages, had left him physically and mentally drained. This “mid-season low,” as he described it, saw the usually effervescent rider retreat into a quiet sabbatical. He was even spotted training in a unique kit that bore the words “Do Not Disturb,” a signal to the world that even the greatest engines require a period of silent recalibration.
This period of recovery proved to be the foundation for his spectacular autumn. He returned to the peloton revitalized, quickly capturing the European Championship title before heading to Rwanda for the World Championships. In Kigali, he unleashed a signature 66-kilometer solo attack to defend his rainbow jersey, a move that silenced any remaining doubts about his health or motivation. This resilience—the ability to pivot from a state of “shock” and exhaustion to world-beating form within weeks—is what truly separates Pogačar from his contemporaries.
The Historical Weight of the “Pogačar Era”
Comparing athletes across different generations is often a futile exercise, yet Pogačar’s 2025 numbers make the comparison with Eddy Merckx unavoidable. He became only the second man in history to win three Monuments, the Tour de France, and the World Championship in a single calendar year. In the modern era of hyper-specialization, where riders usually focus either on one-day classics or three-week Grand Tours, Pogačar is a throwback to a more holistic age of racing. He is as comfortable battling for position on the cobbles of Flanders as he is dancing up the 2,000-meter peaks of the Alps.
The impact of his dominance is felt most keenly by his rivals. Even generational talents like Remco Evenepoel, who secured the Olympic and World time-trial titles in 2025, found themselves primarily playing the role of the “first among mortals” when facing Pogačar in road races. The Slovenian’s 20 victories from just 50 race days represent a strike rate that is nearly unprecedented in the 21st century. As he moves into 2026, the cycling world is no longer asking if he can be beaten, but rather how many records he will choose to break next.
The Architecture of a Legend
Behind the individual glory lies a sophisticated infrastructure within the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad. The 2025 season saw the team refine their tactical approach to perfectly complement Pogačar’s aggressive instincts. At Il Lombardia, the team placed four riders in the top 11, with young stars like Isaac del Toro providing the support that allowed Pogačar to launch his winning move with 34 kilometers to go. This synergy between individual genius and collective strength has created a “Fortress Pogačar” that seems increasingly impenetrable to outside attacks.
As the 27-year-old reflects on what he calls his “best season so far,” the horizon remains wide. With ten Monument titles already in his palmarès, he is rapidly closing in on the all-time records held by Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. Yet, for Pogačar, the motivation seems to stem less from the record books and more from a pure, almost boyish joy in the act of racing. In an era of data-driven, clinical performances, his willingness to “attack anywhere” has revitalized the sport, ensuring that while he may rule the world of cycling with total power, he does so with a flair that keeps the fans coming back for more.
